All four accused — Stanley Chatman, Crystal Nelson, Quinten Nixon and Dayjuan Tuggle — appeared in court on Monday, an appearance that meant they had to face the Berry family for the first time.

“It was very hard looking at them in their faces,” Alicia Thomas said. “I want to tell you that, you know, we tried to be Christian, but Lord help me, Jesus, that was very hard to do. I’m still shaking.”

Thomas, the aunt of Jonathan and Jeremi and the family’s spokesperson, says her niece left the hospital just to be in court on Monday.

“Right now she is in a wheel chair,” Thomas said. “She doesn’t have any feeling right now.”

Defense attorneys heard the charges against their clients during the hearing.